Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-19

| they VIII want hnOthtf, oah" -.i Inn
mick. He went back to the shelf and
took another which was The Bottle.
With The two bottles under his arm he
returned to the dining room. and the
master commended the thoughtfulness
of his servant.
II wanted ten minutes of midnight
as Mr.. Theodore crossed the spacious
hall which separated the dining-room
from the drawing.room. In front OF a
noble Venetian mirror, framed IN
chased and FURNISHED silver, he gave
the final set to his tie and smoothed
away from the neighborhood OF his
waistband the solitary wrinkle which
fr,tted the fair surface OF his satin
wai,tcoat. Standing there he beheld
with smooth and kindly gaze form
which was neither youthful nor too
matmc. but which combined with the
admirable elegance of twenty the cill-
turcd and slightly more phlDsophH
repCse Of forty-eight
Mr.. Theodore was man who spent
the fortune which his fathers had made
fer him upon principles which aimed Mt
secmipC bis own contentment IN the
first place. and, in the second, the APP
proyal OF that section of society which
nleased him best. A marked tendency
10 selfishncss, plainly indicated 10y the
share of the nose rs seen IN profile.
was partially corrected by the genial
and humor-loving curves of the mouth.
Mr.. Theodore spoke in somewhat ford
though nicely balanced tones, which
he could shift with admirable art so as
to harmonlze them with those OF the
person TO whom he addressed himself.
He turned from the contemplation of
his person on hearing fine arrival OF his
first guest.
At quarter after midnight supper
was served. 1t was rare meal. The
host had been traveller in many lands
and was a happy and versatile story
teller. He told tales which his talent
for mimicry sharpened to the point OF
wit of the theatres of the East OF sit
ting cross-legged in the rushes on the
floor of the playhouse of Japan; OF
taking sureptitiOus lessons In the
Nautch from the favorite dancer OF Il
Mabaraiah he sang a comic song from
an Indian farce which was very like IN
Indian dirge; and subsequently per
formed the all but incredible feat OF
condensing into half dozen sentences
the plot of a Chinese tragedy which
had occupied a month in representa-
ton.
in Jest and anecdote the guests
matched their host featly. Think OF
the genius and talent of the London
stage concentrated round a supper
table. each man of them an actor who
stood in the eye of the public the star
of his particular theatre, trained hn,
moist, a Theatre Mesmer, able at will
TO dissolve in tears or freeze with hor-
Tor an entire audience, great de
claimer-or at poorest n magnificent
Apollo for whom countless ladies
nightly sighed themselves to sleep
Fired bv good wine and the desire to
please, each guest poured forth his
best, and the host, 10y exhortation and
example. melted his friends to fresh
cndeavor. In this blithe way they
heightened out the hours, and the
Great gilt clock in the hall chmed halt
mast .. "Dimmick, said Mr. Ihco-
! tore to his butler, you may 90 to
| bed" Mr.. Dimmick gratefully made
! his how and retired.
| He had scarcely closed the dOorupor
himself when Mr.. Theodore noticed
that the liquors had not been served,
lie mentioned the circumstance to IN
guests with an apology, and added
by your leave, gentlemen, I'll serv,
the liquor myself Herose andcrosseo
to tie sideboard, where, amid noble
array Of glasses and hagons Of al
sizes and shapes, stood the two bottles
containing the new liquor-hrandy.
Il should rather like your judgment
on liquor-brandy / have here gentle
men" said Mr.. Theodore. - have
not yet tasted ii myself, but it comes L
me with high recommendation. he
took up one Of the bottles as he spok'
and was already drawing the cork
That done. ne touched the mouth o
the bottle with clean napkin and thcl
made the rouEd Of the table, film
each glass as he passed. Coming L
his own place at the top he poured on
with a flourish the hall-glIss, whlci
was all that remained Of the pale Solde!
fluid.
Now, gentlemen, before | fulfil my
promise your judgments all, If yo'
/ please" exclaimed Mr.. Theodore, lift
ing lis own glass in challenge to hi
guests. livery one at the table ralae'
and drank off his glass. Mr. Theo
dore alone paused for a moment TO not
the first expression on the faces OF M
friends.
What horlid sound was that? !
crash OF fallen glass, followed b.
groans and the cries of men in agony
Mute and stiff with horror the hos
clutched with both hands at the table
and stared before and around him.
In the first stage of fear man.
strength is oftcn trebled Ill the las
stage, when fear is no longer fear, bu
has merged in sheer resistless terror
the muscles become as Jelly and tn,
BODY sinks an inert mass to the ground
Bv desperate exeItion of will the mas
ter Of the house saved himself from
this state of utter helplessness, bu
more he could not do. Ills tongue wa
nyen against his palate ; he stoo'
SPECIFICS and stared out OF eyes grow
almost vacant. What was it that h
glared at
Was it death or but a vision o
death? The Jest was scarcely dry OF
these mems lips did they counterfeit
dissolution as a better jest than all
No, Death had them all in his grip
they were dying in most cruel torment
One by one. as his convulsive struggle
ceased, each guest fell down, athwari
alongside, or beneath the table an
still the miserable host stood there
rigid and gray with fright, and watche
the CHASTITY play.
His brain was melting; his head grey
like to burst madness would hay
seized him next. He vrenched him
self together, and staggered toward tin
door. The bell rope was close agains
it ; he caught at it, and fearful pea
echoed through the house.
A few moments elapsed, in which